Lib Dem councillors for Hale End and Highams Park, Jane Morgan and Nick Bason, have met with council officers and Tesco themselves to gain clarity for residents on the latest Tesco planning application.

The application has been altered recently and some information circulating is now out of date.  The local Lib Dems team want residents to have the full facts about the development. As of 23 July 2009, the application contains the following features:

Tesco store

• The building itself would be 4 stories high, with a car park on the ground floor. The car park would allow people to park and shop around Highams Park for a limited time without having to use the Tesco store itself.
• It would employ 320 people. Many of these are expected to be recruited from the local area.
• If the application were to be successful, it would take around 2 years to build – so if this current application were to be successful, the store would not open until 2012.
• Tesco propose the new store would be open 24 hours a day during the week.
• The store would be a “green” store, emitting 50% less CO2 compared to an equivalent store in 2006.

Other industrial units

• The site will have some other industrial units, such as a cafe and a Primary Care Trust Polyclinic.

Housing development

• The current application includes 253 houses and flats. This is a mixture of private development and affordable housing.
• The separation distance between the proposed new terrace housing and the houses on Selwyn Avenue is a standard 30 meters. The garden depths on both the proposed terrace and Selwyn Avenue vary so each one will be slightly different.
• The design of the residential development is brick-clad, and features a ‘William Morris’ style external brick-work design.
• There will be a Streetcar facility in the residential zone, with two cars available for hire.

Trees

• Some existing trees will be kept, including the Limes on Larkshall Road. Some others will be moved (the Mulberry Tree).
• In total there will be an increase in the number of trees on the development.

Next steps

The application has been submitted and is expected to go to Planning Committee in September.

The local Lib Dem Focus Team (left) know there is a lot of interest in the development from Hale and Higham residents, as it is a long-running issue.

Cllr Nick Bason said:

“What we need is for residents to have facts, not myths. Some residents tell us they are in favour of the scheme, some are against it.

“As Lib Dem councillors we want to ensure that whatever ends up on the site, the result invigorates the local economy and provides jobs and services for people in Hale End and Highams Park.

“The final decision will be taken by Planning Committee and we would encourage any residents with strong views to get in touch with us or the Planning department at Waltham Forest.”

Residents can contact the Focus Team via Cllr Nick Bason’s website, or can go straight to the Planning department at Waltham Forest.